Abstract: A system includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV). A loading table is positioned on the AGV. The loading table is configured and sized to hold more than one storage container. A frame extends from the AGV. A robotic arm is mounted to the frame. In one form, the frame includes a gantry that moves relative to the rest of the AGV. Alternatively or additionally, the robotic arm is able to move relative to the gantry. By holding more than one storage container, the AGV facilitates automatic batch picking or placing of items. The gantry increases the degrees of freedom of movement of the robotic arm.

Abstract: An inventory tracking system includes a tracking device coupled to a transport structure that is designed to carry items. The tracking device includes a processor as well as several modules operatively connected to the processor for determining the location of the transport structure. The tracking device determines location using a short-range communication module when the tracking device is within a storage facility. When outside of the storage facility, the tracking device determines a location of the transport structure using a satellite navigation module. A mobile communication module is used to determine the location of the transport structure if neither the short-range communication module nor the satellite navigation module is successful.

Abstract: A sorter includes a slat and a shoe disposed along the slat. The shoe includes a base and a bumper. The base has an exterior surface. The bumper is coupled to the base. The shoe moves in a lateral direction along the slat to move an item across the slat. The bumper deflects when a threshold force is applied indicative of a jam to allow the item to slide over the base. A drive system is configured to move the slat in a longitudinal direction. The slat includes slat pins. A slat coupler couples the slat to the drive system. The slat coupler includes a carriage base, a coupler arm, and a retainer clip. The carriage base with pin notches is coupled to the drive system. The coupler arm with pin notches is pivotally coupled to the carriage base. The coupler arm is closed against the carriage base with the slat pins disposed within the pin notches. The retainer clip is clipped to the slat pins.

Abstract: A beverage carton packing system includes an End of Arm Tool (EoAT). The EoAT is configured to lift one end and pull a beverage carton, package, or other container from a stack of cartons. Once pulled, the EoAT is configured to grab an opposite side of the carton and remove the carton from the stack. The EoAT is mounted to an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) via a robot arm. Through the EoAT, the robot arm is able to stack mixed pallets of the cartons on the AGV. The AGV has a funnel-shaped packing chamber where the mixed pallet is stacked and a stretch wrapper for stretch wrapping the mixed pallet.

Abstract: A robotic shuttle system includes a rack system and one or more shuttles. The rack system includes a rack and a shuttle frame. The rack has storage locations for containers containing items. The shuttle frame has rails disposed along the rack. The shuttle includes a powertrain, container transfer mechanism, and a robot arm. The power train is configured to move the shuttle along the rails of the rack and on a surface outside of the rack system. The container transfer mechanism is configured to transfer the containers between the rack and the shuttle. The robot arm extends from the shuttle to transfer the items between one of the containers on the shuttle and a container in a container holder of the shuttle.

Abstract: A composite pallet is made of concrete. The concrete material can include various concrete mixtures, such as Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) or an Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC). It also can include microspheres. The concrete material can be cast in a mold or formed via an extrusion process and then cured. The pallet components can include a core material that can form various voids or cavities. The core material can include polystyrene foam, and the foam forms a honeycomb, which is then filled with the concrete material. The concrete material can also be dyed to create different colors to identify the pallets. The pallets can further include plastic and/or rubber bumpers on the corners and/or edges to prevent or minimize chipping. The resulting pallet can be cured using carbon dioxide (CO2) curing which reduces the cure time to about an hour or less.

Abstract: An inventory tracking system includes a tracking device coupled to a transport structure that is designed to carry items. The tracking device includes a processor as well as several modules operatively connected to the processor for determining the location of the transport structure. The tracking device determines location using a short-range communication module when the tracking device is within a storage facility. When outside of the storage facility, the tracking device determines a location of the transport structure using a satellite navigation module. A mobile communication module is used to determine the location of the transport structure if neither the short-range communication module nor the satellite navigation module is successful.

Abstract: A drive system for a high torque mechanical load includes a power supply, a controller, and a high torque electric motor. The electric motor includes a rotor that is oriented eccentrically relative to a stator. In one form, the electric motor has a crankshaft that transmit the torque to the mechanical load. In other variations, the electric motor includes at least two electric motor lobes with opposite stroke positions to provide a smoother output at higher speeds. During operation, the rotor is magnetically attracted to the energized electromagnet. With the rotor attracted to the electromagnet in the stator, the rotor contacts or comes in close proximity to the stator at a contact area. The close proximity between the rotor and stator at the contact area allows very large magnetic forces to be utilized to produce torque without increasing the size or weight of the electric motor.

Abstract: A robotic system includes an end effector with one or more fin grippers that have one or more vacuum ports. The fin grippers are made of elastic material. The fin grippers each include contact and exterior flanges joined together with a series of crossbeams. The crossbeams each define a tube opening to form a tube guide channel between the contact and exterior flanges. In one form, the vacuum ports are located at fingertip ends of the fin grippers, and the vacuum ports include vacuum cups.

Abstract: A system includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV). A loading table is positioned on the AGV. The loading table is configured and sized to hold more than one storage container. A frame extends from the AGV. A robotic arm is mounted to the frame. In one form, the frame includes a gantry that moves relative to the rest of the AGV. Alternatively or additionally, the robotic arm is able to move relative to the gantry. By holding more than one storage container, the AGV facilitates automatic batch picking or placing of items. The gantry increases the degrees of freedom of movement of the robotic arm.

Abstract: A system includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV). A loading table is positioned on the AGV. The loading table is configured and sized to hold more than one storage container. A frame extends from the AGV. A robotic arm is mounted to the frame. In one form, the frame includes a gantry that moves relative to the rest of the AGV. Alternatively or additionally, the robotic arm is able to move relative to the gantry. By holding more than one storage container, the AGV facilitates automatic batch picking or placing of items. The gantry increases the degrees of freedom of movement of the robotic arm.

Abstract: A material handling system includes storage rack configured to store one or more items. An Autonomous Mobile Unit (AMU) is configured to move within the storage rack to service the items. The storage rack includes at least one power rail to charge the AMU when within the storage rack. The AMU includes a wheel assembly with a cogwheel electrically connected to the power rail. The AMU includes a power supply electrically connected to the wheel assembly. The power supply includes a power converter electrically coupled to an Energy Storage System (ESS). The power rail includes a cog track with track teeth. The cogwheel includes cogwheel teeth intermeshed with the track teeth.

Abstract: A composite pallet is made of concrete fill material that is enclosed in a frame structure. The frame structure includes a first frame member and a second frame member. The first frame member has a first frame member cavity that contains the concrete fill material. The first frame member has a tenon, and the second frame member has a mortice in which the tenon of the first frame member is received. The tenon of the first frame member defines a fill gap through which the fill material is able to flow during manufacturing. The frame structure is made of sheet metal that has seams located inside the frame structure.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced concrete composition which cures to a cured fiber reinforced concrete composite following addition of water, the cured fiber reinforced concrete composite having a density from about 700 to 1000 kg/m3 and a compressive strength from about 5 to 15 MPa. A fiber reinforced concrete composition includes a brittle inorganic matrix precursor, a plurality of reinforcing fibers present in a range from 0.5 volume percent to less than 4 volume percent based on the total volume of the cured fiber reinforced concrete composite, and lightweight aggregate having a mean particle size in the range of 10 ?m to 1000 ?m, in an amount effective to achieve a target density in the cured composite not more than 1000 kg/m3. The reinforcing fibers include polypropylene fibers. The lightweight aggregate can include hollow fly ash spheres and glass microspheres. An acrylic admixture can be added to the composition.

Abstract: A packing system includes a conveyor configured to transport one or more containers. Two or more printers are disposed along the conveyors. The printers are configured to print printed material. Each of the printers has a tray upon which the printed material is deposited from the printer. A robotic arm is disposed proximal to the conveyor and the printers. The robotic arm has an end of arm tool configured to pick the printed material from the tray of each printer. A controller is operatively connected to the printers and the robotic arm. The controller is configured to send one or more print instructions to one or more of the printers to print the printed material. The controller is configured to instruct the robotic arm to place the printed material from the tray into the container.

Abstract: A system includes a robot configured to load and/or unload from a location, such as a cargo carrier or building. The robot includes a base unit that has a transport system to move the base unit. A mast extends from the base unit, and the mast has a mast conveyor. An End of Arm Tool (EoAT) is coupled to the mast. The EoAT includes an EoAT conveyor configured to move a cargo item to and from the mast conveyor. A gripper mechanism is configured to move between a retracted position where the gripper mechanism is clear of the cargo item on the EoAT conveyor and an extended position where the gripper mechanism is able to grip the cargo item.

Abstract: A method of operating a cross belt slat sorter includes moving a first item of a first type positioned on the sorter. A database is maintained that stores transport requirements for different item types. A control system ascertains a first type of the first item via a separate vision system that is operatively connected to the control system. The database is accessed to establish the first transport requirements for the first item based on the first type. Belts are controlled based on the first transport requirements of the first item. A second item is moved on the belts, and a second type of the second item is observed with the vision system. The database is accessed to ascertain second transport requirements for the second item. The belts are controlled based on the second transport requirements of the second item.

Abstract: A packing system includes a conveyor configured to transport one or more containers. Two or more printers are disposed along the conveyors. The printers are configured to print printed material. Each of the printers has a tray upon which the printed material is deposited from the printer. A robotic arm is disposed proximal to the conveyor and the printers. The robotic arm has an end of arm tool configured to pick the printed material from the tray of each printer. A controller is operatively connected to the printers and the robotic arm. The controller is configured to send one or more print instructions to one or more of the printers to print the printed material. The controller is configured to instruct the robotic arm to place the printed material from the tray into the container.

Abstract: A system includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV). A loading table is positioned on the AGV. The loading table is configured and sized to hold more than one storage container. A frame extends from the AGV. A robotic arm is mounted to the frame. In one form, the frame includes a gantry that moves relative to the rest of the AGV. Alternatively or additionally, the robotic arm is able to move relative to the gantry. By holding more than one storage container, the AGV facilitates automatic batch picking or placing of items. The gantry increases the degrees of freedom of movement of the robotic arm.

Abstract: A composite pallet is made of concrete. The concrete material can include various concrete mixtures, such as Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) or an Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC). It also can include microspheres. The concrete material can be cast in a mold or formed via an extrusion process and then cured. The pallet components can include a core material that can form various voids or cavities. The core material can include polystyrene foam, and the foam forms a honeycomb, which is then filled with the concrete material. The concrete material can also be dyed to create different colors to identify the pallets. The pallets can further include plastic and/or rubber bumpers on the corners and/or edges to prevent or minimize chipping. The resulting pallet can be cured using carbon dioxide (CO2) curing which reduces the cure time to about an hour or less.